Automatic reversing mechanism for washing machines



Dec. 1, 1925.

- W. F. MORAN AUTOMATIC REVERSING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Nov. 23, 1917 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 1 1925. v 1,563 913 W. F. MORAN AUTOMATIC REVERSING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Nov. '23, 191.7 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Decal I 1,553,913

W. F. MUHAN/ AUTOMATIC REVERSING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Nov, 23, 191"! s Sheets-Shet a Patented Dec. 1, 1925.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM F. MORAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR'OF ONE-HALF T WALTER J.

PATENT OFFICE.

CONLON, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC REVERSING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES.

Application filedNovember To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLTAM F. MoRaN, a citizen of the United States, residing at- Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Revers ing Mechanism for Washing Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The present invention relates to washing machines and has particular reference to an improvement in automatic reversing mechanism for revolving. drum or dasher machines.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an automatic reversing mechanism which is capable of installation upon any machine of the revolving drum or dasher type, is simple in construction, compact and strong and durable.

Another object of my invention is to provide a reversing mechanism of the class described which consists of few parts, such parts as the reversing clutch and gearing and body being mounted on a removable plate in a simple and compact manner, rendering the parts easily accessible for inspection and readily removable for repair or adjustment, should any adjustment be required. The reversing mechanism is readily controllable from an advantageous position on the machine and requires little or no attention when once properly installed. As

will be apparent hereinafter, I lay partic ular stress upon the novel driving means as well as the reversing clutchshift means, the latter embodying positive means for starting the clutch and spring means for continuing the clutch into its opposing engaging positions.

Gther objects and advantages will appear from the following detailed description and the claims, taken with an inspection of the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is an end. elevation of a washing machine having the improved reversing mechanism of my invention installed thereon;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view talen on the plane of line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken on the plane of the line Z-l3 of Figure 2;

Figure 1 a fragmentary vertical sec- 23, 1917. Serial No. 203,486.

tion of the drum housing and drum, showing the preferred manner of mounting the drum and the connection between the drum shaft and said drum;

Figure is an enlarged section taken on the plane of the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a similar view taken on the plane of the line 6-43 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a front view of the clutch and driving mechanism for the wringer rolls;

Figure 8 is a view of the control means for the clutches; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the plane of line 9-9 of Figure 3.

A brief description of the drum housing or tub, supporting frame, wringer, and driving and associated mechanism will be given in order to make clear the present adaptation of applicants invention, but it will, of course, be understood that said structure forms no part of the present invention and applicant does not limit the reversing mechanism of his invention to the application as herein disclosed and described.

The tub structure embodies a liquid container or drum housing H supported in a frame F which is preferably rectangular in shape and composed of side and end portions, the end portions being supported by legs 1010 in the usual manner for devices of this character. A brace bar 11 extends between the legs 1010 and supports a pair of stringers 12 on which the electric motor 13 or similar prime mover is mounted. The end portion of the frame F shown is designated 1e and serves to mount the wringer structure designated R in its entirety. Bolts 15 or the like serve to mount the wringer structure on the end portion let of the frame F. Bolts 16 connect the legs 1010 to the end portion 1a. The end walls 17 of the housing H are of sheet metal as are the sides. In most instances the whole housing H is of sheet metal, the upper edges of. the walls thereof being bent over and secured to the frame F by means of corner cleats 18. A suitable cover 19 is hingedly mounted on the top of the housing H. The motor shaft 20 is extended into a gear housing 21, a worm (not shown) being carried by the motor shaft to transmit motion to a worm gear (not shown), the latter being carried by a main shaft 22,

said shaft being vertically arranged on the outside of the housing H and having a bearing in the gear housing 21 and in a -reversing gear housing 23 mounted on the wringer R. l/Vithin the housing 23 is mounted gear mechanism for reversing the direction of the wringer, the mechanism contained in this housing being described.

in the patent of lValter J. Conlon, No. 1,254,638 issued January 22, 1918, .a portion of the mechanism covered in said application being shown in Figure 7. The housing 23 is provided with a removable clutch plate 24 which is shown in Figure 7, and will be referred to in detail later.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the drum reversing mechanism comprises a clutch shaft, designated S in its entirety, said shaft being formed in two sections 26 and 27, and mounted in bearings 27 and 28 can ried by a supporting plate 29, the latter having supporting arms 30 and 31, the free ends of the arms being bolted at 32 to the legs 1010. The portion 26 of. the shaft section 27 is polygonal in cross section for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. The sections 26 and 27 of the shaft S are detachably connected to the threaded stud 28' carried by the shaft sections 26 and 27 and engaging in a suitable threaded socket in the polygonal portion. The upper end of the plate 29 is rigidly supported by a bracket 33, said bracket being offset and having a bolt 34 passing therethrough, said bolt also passing through the end portion 14 of the frame F and the end wall 17 of the housing H. The free end of the plate supporting arm 30 is enlarged asat 35 and serves to support a bearing 36 through which the main shaft 22 passes, said bearing serving to support a driving bevel gear 37 mounted on said shaft 22 but disconnected therefrom. A clutch collar 38 is vertically movable on the main shaft 22, said collar being keyed to said shaft and rotatable therewith. The clutch collar 38 carries a plurality of clutch teeth 39 on its lower face adapted to engage with a lug 40 formed on the upper face of the bevel, gear 87. A clutch yoke 41 engages the groove in the clutch collar 38, said yoke being vertically operable by means of a rod 12, said rod passing upwardly through the cover plate 2l of the housing 23 and out through the top of the same. A knob 43 is carried by the upper end of the rod 42. As best shown in Figure 8 a block 44- is carried by the rod 4-2, said block being adjustable on said rod and maintained in adjusted position by means of a set screw 45. The block. as best shown in Figure 8 is mounted in the path of movement of the lever 46, said lever be .ing connected to the wringer reverse clutch described and claimed in the application hereinbefore referred to. The lever is when driven by the main shaft to the clutch shaft 26 by means of a relatively larger .bevel gear 5O mounted on one free end of said clutchshaft. The end of the clutch shaft adjacent the gear is squared as at 51 and carries a semi-spherical block 52, said block being receivable in a similarly formed recess 53 in the gear 50. An annular plate 5 1 secured to the gear 50 by means of screws 55 serves to frictionally retain the gear in engagement with the block 52. This is for the purpose of absorbing the sudden shock due to the appli cation of load to the clutch shaft 26 when the drum is reversed, slight relative movement being permitted between the gear 50 and the block 52 to absorb such shocks. It also gives the gear a little freedom in a lateral direction. The bearing 27 is elongated so as to provide a firm support and to withstand any undue pressure which may be applied thereto.

The clutch mechanism proper is best shown in Figures 2 and 6, and comprises a shiftable clutch block 57 having two clutch heads 58 and 59, the end faces of said clutch heads having pairs of radial grooves 60 and 61 formed therein as is best shown in Figure 9. These grooves are arranged on opposite sides of the center so that an even clutching effect is obtained. As two pairs are provided, a clutching position is provided at each quarter turn. The intermediate portion of the clutch block is formed with an annular groove 62 for receiving an operating fork. A pair of bevel pinions 63 and 64iare mounted upon and rotatable independently of the shaft 26, said pinions meshing simultaneously with a drum drive gear65 carried on the drum shaft 66, the latter being mounted in a suitable bearing 67 supported on the end wall 17 of the housing H by means of bolts 68 or the like. The shaft 66 passes through the plate 29, as best shown in Figuc 2. Inwardly directed lugs 69 and 70 are formed; in pairs on the opposing faces of the bevel pinions 63 and 64; and are mounted in the path of travel ofthe radial grooves 60 and 61 to cooperate therewith as the clutch is shifted alternately on the shaft 26. It is, of course, understood that theportion of the shaft 26 on which the clutch block slides is the portion 26', the clutch block having an opening therein corresponding to the shape of the shaft. This obviates the necessity of providing a key-way in the shaft or block. As shown the bearing portions of the shaft S are smaller than the polygonal portion of said shaft, hence the division of the shaft to facilitate assembly.

In Figure 1 the drum and mounting therefor have been shown in detail, the drum being designated D in its entirety, consisting of end walls and connecting slats. The drum shaft 66 projects into the housing H and is provided with a reduced extremity 74, a portion of the shaft 66 extending over the reduced portion to form a driving lug. A rectangular block 76 is provided with a bore 77, said bore being enlarged as at 7 8 and provided with an internal shoulder 79 for engagement with the lug 7 5 carried by the shaft 66. The lug 7 5 and the shoulder 79 extend but part way around their respective driving and driven elements, so that the shaft 66 when reversed makes a part revolution before beginning to drive the drum. The shoulder 7 9 is best shown in Figure 5. The advantage of the lost motion provided by the block 76 and its connection with the shaft 66 will be ap parent when the operation is described later. As best shown in Figure 1, the block 76 is receivable in the recessed rectangular portion 80 of a frame 81 carried by one end wall of the drum D. The opposite end of the drum is removably mounted in a U- shaped bearing 82 by means of a spindle 83 carried by a frame 84 mounted on the opposite wall of said drum. The drum is thereby removably mounted in the housing H, both the drum and the block 76 being removable for cleaning, inspection or repair. The structure of the drum is set forth in my prior joint application, filed March 29, 1917, Serial No. 158,410 jointly by myself and lValter J. Conlon.

Motion is imparted to the shaft 66 from the gear 65, said gear being keyed to the shaft 66 as at 66. The clutch shifting mechanism comprises a time gear 86 freel rotatable on a time spindle 87, the latter being rotatably mounted in the plate 29 and bracket The spindle 87 is normally maintained against accidental rotation due to friction of the time gear thereon by a coiled spring 88 interposed between the bracket 33 and an adjusting nut 89 carried by the inner free end of the time spindle, the spring 86 bearing upon the nut and bracket and thereby restraining the time spindle against accidental rotation. Motion is imparted to the gear 86 from the shaft 66 by means of a time pinion 90, said pinion being held by the key 66. Partial rotation is imparted to the shaft 87 at the proper time by means of a cylindrical block 91 carried by said spindle and rotatable therewith by virtue of a cross pin 92. A

segmental lug 93 is carried by the block 91 and projects inwardly towards the gear 86, the hub of said gear having formed thereon a complemental lug or extension 91- adapted to engage the lug 93 in the manner which will hereinafter appear. A tumbler collar 95 is mounted upon and rotatable with the spindle 87, said collar having a lug 96 projecting radially therefrom to engage the body portion of a shifting lever 97, said shifting lever being bifurcated to provide spaced parallel arms 98 which embrace the collar 95, as best shown in Figures 2 and The clutch shifting lever 97 is provided with an opening 99 near its lower end through which is arranged a push pin 100, a pivot pin 101 forming the positive connection between the arm 97 and the push pin 100. As shown in Figure 2, the ends of the pivot pin 101 lie in longitudinal slots 101 in the arm 97 and thus accommodate the arcuate movement of the arm. The free ends of the push pin are reduced as at 102 and 103 to form engaging shoulders to positively 'move the frame or yoke 106. The reduced ends projecting through suitable openings formed in the arms 106i and of a frame or yoke 106, said frame being carried by the body of the clutch fork 107, the arms 108 of the fork engaging in the annular groove 62 of the clutch block 57. A pair of coiled springs 109 and 110 are interposed between the opposite faces of the lever 97 and the arms 104 and 105, for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. Screws 112 connect the frame 106 to the clutch fork 107, as best shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The operation of the automatic drum reverse mechanism is as follows: The current is delivered to the electric motor 13 and the same drives the primary or main shaft at a uniform speed. To start the drum the knob or handle 43 is depressed, moving the clutch collar 38 downwardly until the teeth carried thereby engage in the bevel gear 37 imparting rotative movement to said gear from the main shaft. This motion is imparted to the clutch shaft 26 through the bevel gear 50, the'friction structure of said gearing allowing for the sudden shock due to starting the drum at full speed from a dead stop. Assume for the purpose of convenience in describing that the main shaft rotates in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 1. This will cause rotation of the clutch shaft in the direction of the arrow a in Figure 2. The clutch block 57 being rotatable with the clutch shaft will continuously rotate in the same direction therewith. Assuming that the clutch block is in the left hand position, as shownin Figures 1 and 3, the left hand pinion wiil be driven therefrom in the direction of the arrow a in Figure 3. Rotation of the pinion 63 in the said direction causes a rotation of the large bevel gear 65 in the direction of thoroughly cleansed.

the arrow a in Figure 1. The clutch shifting lever 97 is in the left hand position, as shown in Figure 1, during this direction of rotation and the motion of the gear is imparted to the time gear 86 through the pinion carried on the drum shaft 66, the rotation of the gear 86 being in a direction opposite to that of the gear 65. \Vhen the shoulder or lug 94: on the gear 86 engages with the shoulder 93 on the block 91 the time spindle 87 will be caused to rotate in a direction opposite to that of the bevel gear 65. The lug 96 carried by the collar will be carried through part of a circle in the direction of the arrow 0 in Figures 1 and 3 until the lug 96 engages the left hand face of the lever 97, moving said lever toward the right. This movement moves the pin in the yoke 106 until the right hand shoulder strikes the arm 105. This starts the clutch member toward right hand engaging position, the spring meanwhile having been sufficiently compressed to pro ject the lug 61 rapidly into the position to engage the lugs 70 carried by the ear 6 If the lugs 70 do not immediately drop into the corresponding slots 61 the relative rotation of the parts quickly brings them into register and the spring 110 presses them into engagement. It will be kept in mind that the direction of rotation of the shaft 26 is constant and therefore the pinion 64 will be rotated in the same direction as the pinion 68 previously was rotated, which will cause the large bevel gear 65 to rotate in the opposite direction to that which it first followed. However, the drum does not immediately start to retrace its rotation, the lost motion connection between the shaft 66 and said drum permitting sufficient time to elapse to allow the drum to come to rest. This permits the cleansing liquid to enter the drum and its contents more thoroughly and after the brief rest the drum is started rotating in the reverse direction. Three or four rotations in opposite directions usually ensue, this alternate rotation being kept up until the contents of the drum are When the bevel gear 65 is rotated in the opposite direction the gear 86 will also rotate oppositely and a certain time period elapses before the shoulders 93 and 9% again engage. As soon as this happens, the lug 96 is rotated in the opposite direction to engage the other side of the lever 97 to return the lever to the first position and again shift the clutch. This continues as long as the clutch collar 38 is engaged with the bevel gear 37 and may be discontinued at any time by either raising the lever 46 or by raising the rod It is readily apparent that the friction of the time gear 86 on the spindle 87 would possibly cause rotation of the spindle when said spindle should be at rest and therefore the spring 88 has been provided for holding said spindle against rotation until positive force is applied thereto through the medium of the lugs 96and 9-1. Particular attention is directed to the lost motion connection between the clutch block 57 and the pinions 64. and 63 and between the shaft 66 and the drum. It will be apparent that by the provision of said lost motion connection it is not necessary that the motor immediately reverse the drum but a certain time elapses between the rotation of the drum in one direction and its reversal. This removes undue strain from the gear teeth and bearing and also relieves the strain on the motor to an appreciable degree. The unavoidable shock due to such starting of the drum from rest is absorbed by the friction connection between the clutch shaft and the pinion 50'.

By raising the lever 46 for controlling the wringer the clutch collar 38 is disengaged from the bevel gear 37 for the reason that when it is desired to wring clothesin the wringer the drum should be stationary, as

the clothes are usually taken directly from P the drum and placed in the wringer. The operation of the lever and its action upon the block 1a carried by the rod 42 will be readily apparent from Figure 7.

To those skilled in the art it will be obvious that the reverse gearing which I employ is not limited in this application to washing machines or to kindred devices, but may be readily employed in various classes of machinery where an alternate rotary movement is required. The structure as disclosed illustrates one embodiment of the invention, various changes within the scope of the claims being possible. Particular stress is laid upon the structure of the clutch shift mechanism controlled by the time gear, the provision of the coiled spring eliminating any positive connection between the time shaft and the clutch block which might become broken or fractured due to the clutch engaging the pinions 623 and 64 with undue stress. serve to project the clutch rapidly to the opposing driving positions so that there can be no dead center, suiiicient strain being imposed upon the clutch when driving in one direction to hold the same sufliciently long to permit the springs to store up the re quired energy for continuing the clutch into the opposite engaging position when the same is started by the enlarged portion of the push pin 100, as hereinbefore described in detail.

I claim:

1. The combination with a driving and a driven shaft and reversing gearing for reversibly driving said driven shaft, of a clutch mechanism for controlling the direction of rotation of said driven shaft, and time controlled means for actuating said The springs also clutch mechanism, said means including a time spindle, a time gear rotatably mounted thereon and driven by the driven shaft, a member connected with said clutch mecha nism to actuate the same, means on said spindle for operatively connecting said time gear with said clutch actuating member to reverse the direction of rotation of said driven shaft at predetermed intervals, a lost motion connection between said time gear and said clutch actuating member, and means for yieldably restraining the rotation of said spindle.

2. The combination with a driving and a driven shaft, reversible gearing connecting said shafts, of a clutch mechanism for controlling the direction of rotation of said driven shaft, and time controlled means for actuating said clutch mechanism, said means including a time spindle, a time gear rotatably mounted thereon and driven by the driven shaft, lost motion means between the time gear and spindle, a member connected with said clutch mechanism to actuate the same, and a second lost motion means on said spindle for operatively and yieldingly connecting said gear with said clutch actuat ing member to move the clutch mechanism into yieldable engagement with the gearing on said driving shaft.

3. In combination, driving and driven shaft-s, reversing gearing connecting said shafts and adapted to reversibly drive said driven shaft, a time spindle, a time gear mounted thereon and driven from one of said shafts, a shiftable clutch controlling said reversing gearing, shifter mechanism for said clutch comprising a yoke and a rod carried by said yoke, said shifter mechanism. having operative connection with said clutch, means operatively connecting said shifter mechanism with said time gear, and spring spring means on said rod for resiliently shifting said clutch during a predetermined part of the shifting movement.

4-. In combination, driving and driven shail. s, reversing gearing connecting said shafts for reversibly driving said driven shafts, a shiftable clutch controlling said reversing gearing, a yoke moving with said clutch, a pin mounted in the arms of said yoke, a time controlled member actuated by one of said shafts cooperating with the intermediate portion of said pin, and springs between said member and the arms of yoke.

In a reversing mechanism, the combination of a driving shaft, a driven shaft, reversing means for connecting said shafts to cause said driven shaft to rotate in either direction, a yoke moving with said shiftable means, a shouldered pin shiftably mounted in the arms of said yoke, a time controlled member driven from one of said shafts, and operatively connected .to said pin, and

'versing springs between said member and the arms of said yoke, the shouldered ends of said pin being adapted to transmit positive motion from said time controlled member to said yoke.

6. In a reversing mechanism, the combination of a driving shaft, a driven shaft, reversing means for connectin said shafts to cause said driven shaft to rotate in either direct-ion, and time controlled means for actuating said shiftable means, said time controlled means comprising a time spindle, a time gear rotatably mounted on said spindle, means for driving said time gear from one of said shafts, an operating member mounted on said spindle, a lost motion collar on said spindle adapted to actuate said operating member through a lost motion connection, means affording a lost motion connection between said time gear and said lost motion collar, means actuated by said operating member for positively moving said shiftable means during a predetermined part of its motion, and spring means cooperating therewith for resiliently moving said shiftable means during another part of its movement.

7. in reversing mechanism, the combination of a driving shaft, a driven shaft, rc-

means for connecting said shafts to cause said driven shaft to rotate in either direction, and time controlled means operated by one of said shafts for actuating said shiftable means, said time controlled means comprising a yoke member and an oscillating member, a pin sl'iiftably mounted in the arms of said yoke member, said oscillating member having connection with said pin, and projections on said pin adapted to engage said yoke member to positively transmit motion between said members, one of said members having operative connection with said shiftable means.

8. In combination, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, reversing mechanism connecting said shafts and adapted to periodically reverse the rotation of said driven shaft, a clutch controlling said reversing mechanism, a: shifting member for actuating said clutch, a countershaft, a gear on said countershaft, a gear on said driven shaft for driving said first named gear, an operating member having a lost motion connection with said first gear, spring means interposed between said operating member and said shifting member, said operating member and spring means being arranged. whereby said operating member transmits a shifting force through said spring means to said shifting member by compressing said spring means.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe n1y7name this 15th day of November, A. .D. 191

l/VILLIAM F, MORAN- 

